U.S. war costs in Iraq rising

January 23, 2008
U.S. war costs in Iraq rising

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Iraq war may not dominate U.S. news reports as the carnage drops, but a new report underscores the financial burden of persistent combat that is helping run up the government's credit card.

"Funding for U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and other activities in the war on
terrorism expanded significantly in 2007," the Congressional Budget Office said in a report
released on Wednesday.

War funding, which averaged about $93 billion a year from 2003 through 2005, rose to $120
billion in 2006 and $171 billion in 2007 and President George W. Bush has asked for $193 billion
in 2008, the nonpartisan office wrote.